As your body approaches menopause, you step into an unfamiliar realm of physical and emotional changes that impact everythingโfrom your health and hormones to your menstrual cycle and sex life.
Before we go any further, let's first explore the definition of menopause. According to the National Institute on Aging, menopause is defined as the point in time when you have not had your menstrual period for 12 months in a row [1].
Because your hormone levels shift as you get closer to menopause, you may notice that your sexual experiences and sex drive also undergo various changes. In this article, we'll look at how your sex life and libido may alter during perimenopause the years leading up the menopause and menopause. We'll also explore how you can improve your sexual wellness after menopause. Not every menopausal or perimenopausal person will experience a reduced sex drive.
However, studies have shown that the prevalence of low libido is significantly higher in post-menopausal people than in people who have not yet undergone menopause [2]. So if you've noticed a lower sex drive upon reaching menopause, remember that you are not alone.
It is a common complaint from people approaching menopause. Some research suggests that changes in hormone levels may contribute to decreased sexual libido. During this time, the levels of estrogen , a sex hormone , begin to fluctuate before plummeting, which may lead to changes in your libido and your ability to become sexually aroused [3].
